Part III: What the new teacher licensing standards mean for school boards

View as a PDF here

Gov. Tim Walz’s Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) proposed amendments to the rules governing teacher licensure in Minnesota. These changes are expected to be formally adopted later this winter or early spring and then go into effect on July 1, 2024. Unfortunately, the approved changes politicize teacher training requirements.

School boards may be wondering how these changes will impact their roles and responsibilities. Here’s what you need to know.

(Are you an educator wondering how these changes will impact you? Visit here. Are you a teacher preparation provider? Visit here.)

“I am a school board member. How do these changes affect me?”

The rule changes impact teacher licensure and do not impose changes to a school board’s ongoing authority to include or exclude curriculum.

Because Minnesota is a local-control state, local school boards select the textbooks/curricula to be used in classrooms. Each school board establishes an advisory committee “to ensure active community participation in all phases of planning and improving the instruction and curriculum affecting state and district academic standards.” State law states that parents and other community residents shall comprise at least 2/3 of advisory committee members whenever possible.

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Let’s stand together to promote our common humanity and challenge imposition of an illiberal worldview that treats students and teachers as mere representatives of their race and gender groups instead of as unique, complex individuals.

Because this is new policy, these interpretations are based on the best information we have at this time. We will continue to monitor any changes or interpretations from PESLB as they formally adopt these licensure rule changes.

Are you a school board member concerned these rule changes will violate your educators’ values, religious beliefs and convictions? Please help those individuals reach out to our coalition for support using the contact information below.

Download a PDF with similar information and clickable links here.